Electro-optic device and stereoscopic vision display apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electro-optic device includes: an electro-optic panel displaying a display image with illumination light emitted from an illumination device; a display control circuit controlling the electro-optic panel to display a right-eye image during a right display period and display a left-eye image during a left display period; a glasses control circuit controlling a right-eye shutter of stereoscopic vision glasses so as to maintain an open state during the right display period, controlling a left-eye shutter of stereoscopic vision glasses so as to maintain an open state during the left display period, and controlling both the right-eye shutter and the left-eye shutter so as to maintain a close state during a blocking period; and an illumination control circuit controlling the illumination device to vary an intensity of the illumination light in a pulsed shape during the blocking period.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a right-eyeimage and a left-eye image mutually having parallax to provide astereoscopic effect to an observer.

2. Related Art

Hitherto, display devices displaying an image using illumination lightemitted from an illumination device have been suggested. For example, anillumination device using an alternating current driving type dischargelamp is used for a projection type display device displaying an image byprojecting display light modulated in accordance with a display image ona projection surface. JP-T-2002-533884 and JP-A-2005-353343 disclosetechniques for stabilizing lighting (discharging) by overlapping pulsesP with an alternating driving current supplied to a discharge lamp, asshown in FIG. 6.

In the configuration disclosed in JP-T-2002-533884 and JP-A-2005-353343,in which the pulses P are overlapped with the driving current of thedischarge lamp, as shown in FIG. 6, the intensity of display light(illumination light) emitted from the illumination device is varied(pulsated) at the time points of the pulses P. The instantaneousvariation (hereinafter, referred to as “intensity variation”) v of thedisplay light causes deterioration (display spot) in display quality, asdescribed below.

In the projection type display device, a plurality of pixels arranged ina matrix form is selected sequentially in a row unit and image signalscorresponding to designated gray scales are supplied to the pixels ofthe selected rows and are maintained. The plurality of pixels eachincludes, for example, a transistor that controls a liquid crystalelement. The electric characteristics (for example, the degree ofcurrent leak) of each transistor forming the pixel are varied inaccordance with the intensity of illumination light.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the intensity variation v occurs in the displaylight from the illumination device during a horizontal scanning periodof selecting the m-th row and, for example, even when the gray scalecommon to all the pixel circuits is designated, an error occurs betweenthe voltage values of the image signal maintained in the respectivepixels of the m-row and the image signal maintained in the respectivepixels of the other rows. That is, an observer may recognize ahorizontal line-shaped display spot (in the m-th row) where the grayscale is different from that of the periphery. Specifically, when theintensity variation v (overlap of the pulses P) and the verticalscanning of the projection type display device are synchronized witheach other, the line-shaped display spot is normally located in apredetermined row (for example, the m-th row). When the intensityvariation of the display light and the vertical scanning are notsynchronized with each other, the line-shaped display spot is moved overtime (so-called scroll noise).

In the above description, the intensity variation v of the display lighthas been exemplified to stabilize the discharge of the discharge lamp.However, the same problem may arise even when the intensity of thedisplay line is made to be instantaneously varied (or inevitably varied)due to the reasons other than the stabilization of the discharge.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides atechnique for suppressing deterioration (display spot) in displayquality caused due to an instantaneous variation in the intensity of thedisplay light.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided anelectro-optic device which displays a right-eye image and a left-eyeimage stereoscopically viewed with stereoscopic vision glasses includinga right-eye shutter and a left-eye shutter. The electro-optic deviceincludes: an electro-optic panel displaying a display image withillumination light emitted from an illumination device; a displaycontrol circuit controlling the electro-optic panel to display theright-eye image during a right display period and display the left-eyeimage during a left display period; a glasses control circuitcontrolling the right-eye shutter so as to maintain an open state duringthe right display period, controlling the left-eye shutter so as tomaintain an open state during the left display period, and controllingboth the right-eye shutter and the left-eye shutter so as to maintain aclose state during a blocking period different from the right displayperiod and the left display period; and an illumination control circuitcontrolling the illumination device to emit the illumination light (forexample, illumination light in which an intensity is maintainednormally) during the right display period and the left display periodand to vary an intensity of the illumination light in a pulsed shapeduring the blocking period.

With such a configuration, since the intensity variation (variation in apulsed shape) occurs during the blocking period in which both theright-eye shutter and the left-eye shutter are controlled so as tomaintain the close state, it is possible to obtain the advantage that anobserver can scarcely perceive a deterioration (display spot) in displayquality caused to the intensity variation of the illumination light.

In the electro-optic device according to the aspect of the invention,the display control circuit may control the electro-optic panel so thatthe display image of the electro-optic panel is changed from theleft-eye image to the right-eye image during the blocking period beforestart of the right display period and the display image of theelectro-optic panel is changed from the right-eye image to the left-eyeimage during the blocking period before start of the left displayperiod. With such a configuration, since one of the right-eye image andthe left-eye image is changed to the other thereof during the blockingperiod in which both the right-eye shutter and the left-eye shutter arecontrolled so as to maintain the close state, it is possible to obtainthe advantage that an observer can scarcely perceive coexistence(crosstalk) of the right-eye image and the left-eye image.

The electro-optic device according to the aspect of the invention mayfurther include a pixel section in which a plurality of pixel circuitsincluding a liquid crystal element are arranged. The display controlcircuit may control the electro-optic panel so that an applicationvoltage to each liquid crystal element becomes reverse in polaritybetween time of displaying the right-eye image during the right displayperiod and time of displaying the right-eye image during the blockingperiod immediately before this right display period and so that theapplication voltage to each liquid crystal element becomes reverse inpolarity between time of displaying the left-eye image during the leftdisplay period and time of displaying the left-eye image during theblocking period immediately before this left display period. With such aconfiguration, since the application voltage of each liquid crystalelement is set to become reverse in polarity during the blocking periodand during the right display period or the left display period, it ispossible to prevent liquid crystal from deteriorating due to applicationof a direct-current component.

The electro-optic device according to the above aspect is used as adisplay unit for various electronic apparatuses. For example, astereoscopic vision display apparatus, which includes the electronicapparatus according to the above aspect of the invention, stereoscopicvision glasses controlled by the glass control circuit of theelectro-optic device; and an illumination device controlled by theillumination control circuit, is exemplified as an electronic apparatusaccording to another aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a stereoscopicvision display apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of thestereoscopic vision display apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the stereoscopic visiondisplay apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the stereoscopic visiondisplay apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an intensity variation ofdisplay light of an illumination device according to a modification.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating intensity variations of a drivingcurrent and display light of an illumination device according to thetechnique of the related art.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a problem (display spot) of a techniqueaccording to the related art.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS A. First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a stereoscopic vision displayapparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Thestereoscopic vision display apparatus 100 according to the firstembodiment is an electronic apparatus that displays a stereoscopic imageconfigured to provide a stereoscopic effect to an observer in accordancewith an active shutter method. As shown in FIG. 1, the stereoscopicvision display apparatus 100 includes an illumination device 10, anelectro-optic device 20, and stereoscopic vision glasses 30. Theillumination device 10 and the electro-optic device 20 may beaccommodated in a single casing (not shown).

The illumination device 10 is an illuminator that emits display light(illumination light) D used to display a stereoscopic image. Theillumination device 10 includes an illumination driving circuit 12 and alight source 14. The light source 14 emits the display light D. Forexample, an alternating driving type discharge lamp such as a UHP (UltraHigh Performance) lamp is suitably used as the light source 14. Theillumination driving circuit 12 allows the light source 14 to emit lightby supplying an alternating driving current LDR. For example, a fullbridge type inverter circuit that generates the driving current LDR froma direct-current power source is used as the illumination drivingcircuit 12. The electro-optic device 20 displays a stereoscopic visionimage (color image) by modulating the display light D from theillumination device 10 and projecting the modulated display light D ontoa projection surface (screen) 200.

The stereoscopic vision glasses 30 in FIG. 1 is a glasses-typeinstrument which an observer wears when viewing the stereoscopic visionimage displayed by the electro-optic device 20. The stereoscopic visionglasses 30 includes a right-eye shutter 32 located on the front side ofthe right eye of the observer and a left-eye shutter 34 located on thefront side of the left eye of the observer. The right-eye shutter 32 andthe left-eye shutter 34 are controlled in accordance with an open statewhere the illumination light passes and a close state where theillumination light is blocked. For example, a liquid crystal shutter, inwhich one of the open state and the close state is changed to the otherin accordance with an alignment direction of liquid crystal by anapplication voltage, can be used as the right-eye shutter 32 and theleft-eye shutter 34.

The electro-optic device 20 is a projection type display device(projector) that includes an illumination optical system 22, a pluralityof electro-optic panels 24 (24R, 24G, and 24B), a projection opticalsystem 26, and a control circuit 28. The illumination optical system 22supplies the display light D emitted from the illumination device 10 tothe respective electro-optic panels 24. Specifically, a red component rof the display light D is supplied to the electro-optic panel 24R, agreen component g thereof is supplied to the electro-optic panel 24G,and a blue component b thereof is supplied to the electro-optic panel24B. Each electro-optic panel 24 is an optical modulator (light valve)that modulates the display light D (each monochromatic light) inaccordance with the display image. The projection optical system 26synthesizes the light emitted from the respective electro-optic panels24 and projects the synthesized light onto the projection surface 200.The control circuit 28 controls each unit (the illumination device 10,the electro-optic device 20, and the stereoscopic vision glasses 30) ofthe stereoscopic vision display apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electric configuration of thestereoscopic vision display apparatus 100. In FIG. 2, the representativeelectro-optic panel 24 is illustrated among the plurality ofelectro-optic panels 24 (24R, 24G, and 24B) of the electro-optic device20. Since the general configuration and operation of each electro-opticpanel 24 is common, the configuration and the operation of oneelectro-optic panel 24 will be mainly described below.

The electro-optic panel 24 includes a pixel section 42, in which aplurality of pixel circuits 48 is arranged in a matrix form incorrespondence with intersections between a plurality of scanning lines462 and a plurality of signal lines 464, and a driving circuit 44 whichdrives the respective pixel circuits 48. The driving circuit 44 includesa scanning line driving circuit 441 which selects the plurality ofscanning lines 462 in order and a signal supply circuit 443 whichsupplies a gray scale potential VG to the plurality of signal lines 464in synchronization with the selection of the respective scanning lines462. The gray scale potential VG is set to be variable in accordancewith gray scales (that is, each pixel value of the display image)designated with the image signal supplied from an external circuit. Eachpixel circuit 48 includes a liquid crystal element CL of whichtransmittance is varied in accordance with the voltage between bothends. The application voltage to the liquid crystal element CL is set inaccordance with the gray scale potential VG supplied to the signal lines464 at the time of selecting the scanning lines 462.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 28 includes a display controlcircuit 52 which controls each electro-optic panel 24, a glasses controlcircuit 54 which controls the stereoscopic vision glasses 30, and anillumination control circuit 56 which controls the illumination device10. Further, the display control circuit 52, the glasses control circuit54, and the illumination control circuit 56 may be mounted on a singleintegrated circuit. Alternatively, the display control circuit 52, theglasses control circuit 54, and the illumination control circuit 56 maybe mounted on separate integrated circuits. Hereinafter, a specificoperation of the control circuit 28 will be described with reference toFIG. 3.

The display control circuit 52 displays a right-eye image GR and aleft-eye image GL having mutually parallax in a time division manner onthe projection surface 200 by controlling each electro-optic panel 24.As shown in FIG. 3, an operation period of the electro-optic panel 24 isdivided into a plurality of unit periods U (UR and UL). The unit periodUR of displaying the right-eye image GR and the unit period UL ofdisplaying the left-eye image GL are alternately set. The unit period URincludes a blocking period POFF and a right display period PR. Theblocking period POFF is located before (immediately before) the rightdisplay period PR starts. Likewise, the unit period UL includes ablocking period POFF and a left display period PL immediately after theblocking period POFF.

The display control circuit 52 shown in FIG. 2 controls eachelectro-optic panel 24 so as to display the right-eye image GR duringeach of the blocking period POFF and the right display period PR of eachunit period UR. That is, the scanning driving circuit 441 selects theplurality of scanning lines 462 sequentially in order during eachblocking period POFF and each right display period PR and the signalsupply circuit 443 supplies the gray scale potential VG corresponding tothe right-eye image GR to the respective signal lines 464. In this case,the display control circuit 52 controls the driving circuit 44 so thatthe polarity of the application voltage to the liquid crystal element CLof each pixel circuit 48 becomes reverse during the blocking period POFFand the right display period PR of one unit period UR. That is, thesignal supply circuit 443 supplies the gray scale potential VG with apositive polarity (sign [+] in FIG. 3) relative to a predeterminedreference potential (for example, the potential of a counter electrode)to the respective signal lines 464 during the blocking period POFF,whereas the signal supply circuit 443 supplies the gray scale potentialVG with a negative polarity (sign [−] in FIG. 3) relative to thereference potential during the right display period PR. The commonright-eye image GR is displayed during each blocking period POFF andeach right display period PR. However, the separate right-eye images GR(images of previous and subsequent frames) may be displayed during theblocking period POFF and the right display period PR.

Likewise, the display control circuit 52 allows the electro-optic panel24 to display the left-eye image GL during the blocking period POFF andthe left display period PL of each unit period UL. Like the operationduring the unit period UR, the polarity of the application voltage (thegray scale potential VG) to the liquid crystal element CL of each pixelcircuit 48 is set to be reverse during the blocking period POFF and theleft display period PL of one unit period UL. Since the polarity of theapplication voltage to the liquid crystal element CL sequentiallybecomes reverse (AC-drive), the deterioration in the liquid crystalcaused due to application of the direct-current voltage is suppressed.

During the blocking period POFF of the unit period UR, the left-eyeimage GL displayed during the left display period PL of the immediatelyprevious unit period UL is changed to the right-eye image GRsequentially in the row unit. During the blocking period POFF of theunit period UL, the right-eye image GR displayed during the rightdisplay period PR of the immediately previous unit period UR is changedto the left-eye image GL sequentially in the row unit. That is, duringeach blocking period POFF, the right-eye image GR and the left-eye imageGL coexist.

The glasses control circuit 54 shown in FIG. 2 controls the states (theopen state and the close state) of the right-eye shutter 32 and theleft-eye shutter 34 of the stereoscopic vision glasses 30 insynchronization with the operation of the electro-optic panel 24.Specifically, during the right display period PR of each unit period UR,the glasses control circuit 54 controls the open state of the right-eyeshutter 32 and also controls the close state of the left-eye shutter 34.During the left-display period PL of each unit period UL, the glassescontrol circuit 54 controls the close state of the right-eye shutter 32and also controls the open state of the left-eye shutter 34.Accordingly, the right-eye image GR displayed during the right displayperiod PR passes through the right-eye shutter 32 and reaches the righteye of the observer, whereas being blocked by the left-eye shutter 34.The left-eye image GL displayed during the left display period PL passesthrough the left-eye shutter 34 and reaches the left eye of theobserver, whereas being blocked by the right-eye shutter 32. Theobserver can perceive the stereoscopic effect of the display image whenviewing the right-eye image GR having passed through the right-eyeshutter 32 with his or her right eye and also viewing the left-eye imageGL having passed through the left-eye shutter 34 with his or her lefteye.

The glasses control circuit 54 controls the close states of both theright-eye shutter 32 and the left-eye shutter 34 during the blockingperiod POFF of each unit period U (UR and UL). During the blockingperiod POFF, the display image is changed over time from one of theright-eye image GR and the left-eye image GL to the other, as describedabove, but both the right-eye shutter 32 and the left-eye shutter 34 arecontrolled in the close state. Therefore, during the blocking periodPOFF, the observer is not able to perceive the coexistence (crosstalk)of the right-eye image GR and the left-eye image GL. That is, since theright-eye image GR and the left-eye image GL are reliably separated forthe right eye and the left eye, respectively, the observer is able toclearly perceive the stereoscopic effect.

The illumination control circuit 56 shown in FIG. 2 controls theillumination device 10 to generate the display light D insynchronization with the operation of the electro-optic panel 24.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the illumination control circuit 56controls the illumination driving circuit 12 to supply an alternatingdriving current LDR periodically overlapped with the pulses P from theillumination driving circuit 12 to the light source 14. In this way, itis possible to stabilize lighting (discharging) of the light source 14by overlapping the driving current LDR with the pulses P. As shown inFIG. 3, an instantaneous variation (intensity variation) v in theintensity occurs in the display light D emitted from the illuminationdevice 10 at the time point of the pulse P overlapped with the drivingcurrent LDR.

As shown in FIG. 3, the illumination control circuit 56 controls theillumination driving circuit 12 so that the pulses P are overlapped onlyduring the blocking period POFF of each unit period U (UR and UL) (thatis, no pulse p exists during the right display period PR or the leftdisplay period PL). Accordingly, the intensity variation v of thedisplay light D caused due to the pulse p of the driving current LDRoccurs during the blocking period POFF of each unit period U (UR andUL). That is, the intensity (intensity d in FIG. 3) of the display lightemitted from the illumination device 10 is maintained substantiallyconstantly during each right display period PR or each left displayperiod PL and increases in a pulse shape during each blocking periodPOFF. As described above, both the right-eye shutter 32 and the left-eyeshutter 34 are controlled in the close state during each blocking periodPOFF. Accordingly, the observer is not able to perceive the horizontalline-shaped display spot (see FIG. 7) which can occur in the displayimage during the blocking period POFF due to the intensity variation vof the display light D. That is, according to the first embodiment, evenin the configuration in which the pulses p are overlapped with thedriving current LDR to stabilize the display light D, it is possible toobtain the advantage of effectively suppressing the deterioration(display spot) in the display quality caused due to the intensityvariation v of the display light D.

B. Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. The samereference numerals are given to the constituent elements having the sameoperations and functions as those of the first embodiment and thedescription thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the control circuit28. As shown in FIG. 4, each unit period UR includes one blocking periodPOFF and the plurality of right display periods PR. Likewise, each unitperiod UL includes one blocking period POFF and the plurality of leftdisplay periods PL. The control circuit 52 controls each electro-opticpanel 24 so that the application voltage of the liquid crystal elementCL becomes reverse during the previous and subsequent right displayperiods PR of each unit period UR and the application voltage of theliquid crystal element CL becomes reverse during the previous andsubsequent left display periods PL of each unit period UL. Further,during each of the previous and subsequent right display periods PR, thecommon right-eye image GR may be display or the separate right-eyeimages GR (for example, images of previous and subsequent frames). Thesame is applied to the left display period PL.

As shown in FIG. 4, the glasses control circuit 54 controls theright-eye shutter 32 so as to maintain the open state and the left-eyeshutter 34 so as to be maintained in the close state continuously duringthe plurality of right display periods PR of the unit period UR, whereasthe glasses control circuit 54 controls the left-eye shutter 34 so as tomaintain the open state and the right-eye shutter 32 so as to bemaintained in the close state continuously during the plurality of leftdisplay periods PL of the unit period UL. Further, as in the firstembodiment, the glasses control circuit 54 controls the right-eyeshutter 32 and the left-eye shutter 34 so as to be maintained in theclose state during the blocking period POFF of each unit period U (URand UL).

As in the first embodiment, the illumination control circuit 56 controlsthe illumination device 10 (the illumination driving circuit 12) so thatthe intensity variation v of the display light D caused by the pulse Pof the driving current LDR occurs during the blocking period POFF ofeach unit period U (UR and UL). Thus, since the intensity variation v ofthe display light D occurs during the blocking period POFF in which theright-eye shutter 32 and the left-eye shutter 34 are in the close state,it is possible to suppress the deterioration (display spot) in thedisplay quality caused due to the intensity variation v, as in the firstembodiment. Further, in the second embodiment, one unit period URincludes the plurality of right display periods PR and one unit periodUL also includes the plurality of left display periods PL. With such aconfiguration, since the ratio of the blocking period POFF of each unitperiod U (UR and UL) is reduced, it is possible to easily ensure thebrightness of the display image compared to, for example, a case wherethe blocking period POFF occupies about half of the unit period U.

C. Modifications

The above-described embodiments may be modified in various forms.Specific modifications will be described. Two or more arbitrarilyselected modifications among the modifications described below may becombined appropriately.

(1) Modification 1: in the above-described embodiments, theconfiguration has been exemplified in which the intensity of the displaylight D is instantaneously varied during the blocking period POFF and ismaintained so as to be substantially constant during the other periods(for example, the right display periods PR or the left display periodsPL), but the invention is not limited to the above-described example ofthe intensity variation of the display light D. For example, as shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the intensity of the display light D may be varied overtime during a period other than the intensity variation v caused due tothe pulses P of the driving current LDR. In the above-describedembodiments, the configuration has been exemplified in which theintensity of the display light D instantaneously increases. However, aconfiguration in which the intensity of the display light Dinstantaneously decreases is applicable to the above-describedembodiments. For example, when the intensity of the display light Dinstantaneously decreases in order to reduce the power consumption ofthe illumination device 10, the configuration is suitably used in whichthe intensity of the display light D instantaneously decreases duringthe blocking period POFF. As described above, the illumination controlcircuit 56 in the above-described embodiments serves as an element thatcontrols the illumination device 10 so that pulse-shaped intensityvariation v of the display light D occurs during the blocking periodPOFF. Moreover, the direction (increase/decrease) of the intensityvariation of the display light D or the purpose (stabilization of thedischarge or reduction in the power consumption) for the intensityvariation of the display light during the blocking period POFF can bearbitrarily determined.

(2) Modification 2: in the above-described embodiments, the plurality ofscanning lines 462 are each selected sequentially even during theblocking period POFF like the right display period PR or the leftdisplay period PL, and the gray scale potential VG corresponding to thedisplay image is supplied to each pixel circuit 48. However, theoperation of the electro-optic panel 24 during the blocking period POFFis not limited to the above-described example. For example, N (where Nis a natural number of 2 or more) scanning lines may be selected amongthe plurality of scanning lines 462 and the gray scale potential VGcorresponding to the display image may be supplied to each pixel circuit48. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent theright-eye image GR and the left-eye image GL from coexisting whileshortening the time length of the blocking period POFF by 1/N. In theabove-described embodiments, the blocking period POFF is set in order toprevent the right-eye image GR and the left-eye image GL fromcoexisting, but the purpose of setting the blocking POFF is not limitedto the above example. For example, the blocking period POFF may be setonly for the purpose of allowing the observer not to perceive theintensity variation v of the display light D. As described above, theblocking period POFF is a period other than the right display period PRand the left display period PL. The operation of changing one of theright-eye image GR and the left-eye image GL during the blocking periodPOFF to the other is not compulsory.

(3) Modification 3: in the above-described embodiments, a period atwhich the polarity of the application voltage of the liquid crystalelement CL becomes reverse can be set arbitrarily. For example, thepolarity of the application voltage of the liquid crystal element CLbecomes reverse at an interval of the unit period U (UR and UL).Alternatively, the polarity of the application voltage of the liquidcrystal element CL may become reverse at an interval of the plurality ofunit periods U.

(4) Modification 4: in the above-described embodiments, theelectro-optic element used for modulating the display light D from theillumination device 10 is not limited to the liquid crystal element CLexemplified in the above-described embodiments. For example, anelectrophoretic element may be used as the electro-optic element. Thatis, the electro-optic element serves as a display element which isvaried in optical characteristics (for example, transmittance) inaccordance with an electric operation (for example, application ofvoltage).

(5) Modification 5: in the above-described embodiments, a projectiontype display device has been exemplified so that an observer canperceive the reflected light from the projection surface 200. However,the invention is applicable to a direct-view type display device withwhich an observer can directly perceive emitted light. In thedirect-view type display device, the illumination device 10 is used as abacklight unit or a front-light unit that illuminates a singleelectro-optic panel 24. The direct-view type display device to which theinvention is applied may be used for various electronic apparatuses suchas cellular phones or a portable information terminals.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-178385,filed Aug. 9, 2010 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

1. An electro-optic device which displays a right-eye image and aleft-eye image stereoscopically viewed with stereoscopic vision glassesincluding a right-eye shutter and a left-eye shutter, comprising: anelectro-optic panel displaying a display image with illumination lightemitted from an illumination device; a display control circuitcontrolling the electro-optic panel to display the right-eye imageduring a right display period and display the left-eye image during aleft display period; a glasses control circuit controlling the right-eyeshutter so as to maintain an open state during the right display period,controlling the left-eye shutter so as to maintain an open state duringthe left display period, and controlling both the right-eye shutter andthe left-eye shutter so as to maintain a close state during a blockingperiod different from the right display period and the left displayperiod; and an illumination control circuit controlling the illuminationdevice to emit the illumination light during the right display periodand the left display period and to vary an intensity of the illuminationlight in a pulsed shape during the blocking period.
 2. The electro-opticdevice according to claim 1, wherein the display control circuitcontrols the electro-optic panel so that the display image of theelectro-optic panel is changed from the left-eye image to the right-eyeimage during the blocking period before start of the right displayperiod and the display image of the electro-optic panel is changed fromthe right-eye image to the left-eye image during the blocking periodbefore start of the left display period.
 3. The electro-optic deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising: a pixel section in which aplurality of pixel circuits including a liquid crystal element arearranged, wherein the display control circuit controls the electro-opticpanel so that an application voltage to each liquid crystal elementbecomes reverse in polarity between time of displaying the right-eyeimage during the right display period and time of displaying theright-eye image during the blocking period immediately before this rightdisplay period and so that the application voltage to each liquidcrystal element becomes reverse in polarity between time of displayingthe left-eye image during the left display period and time of displayingthe left-eye image during the blocking period immediately before thisleft display period.
 4. A stereoscopic vision display apparatuscomprising: the electro-optic device according to claim 1; stereoscopicvision glasses controlled by the glass control circuit of theelectro-optic device; and an illumination device controlled by theillumination control circuit of the electro-optic device.
 5. Astereoscopic vision display apparatus comprising: the electro-opticdevice according to claim 2; stereoscopic vision glasses controlled bythe glass control circuit of the electro-optic device; and anillumination device controlled by the illumination control circuit ofthe electro-optic device.
 6. A stereoscopic vision display apparatuscomprising: the electro-optic device according to claim 3; stereoscopicvision glasses controlled by the glass control circuit of theelectro-optic device; and an illumination device controlled by theillumination control circuit of the electro-optic device.